Counting-register.



No. 888,781. PATENTED MAY 26, 1908.

' H. C. BOWLUS. COUNTING REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19. 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHBIJT 1.

I Suuenl'o-z,

Witnesses 11km 7 M attouua HENRY C. BOWLUS, OE SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.-

GOUN'IING-RE GISTEB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2c, 1908.

application filed J'u1y 19, 1 907. Serial No. 384,609.

To all whom it'may concern;

Be it known thatI, HENRY O. BnwLUs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in thecounty of Clark and State Ohio, have invented certain new and useful-Improvements in Counting- Registers, 'of which the following is a specification, refer.

- ence being had therein to the accompanying drawings. 7

The present invent on relates to counting registers such as are usually employed for counting andregistering the output of'machines of various kinds.

The object of the invention is to provide a counting machine of this character which will be-simple of construction, positive and accurate in operation, from which-a record reset to zero. 1

Withthese objects 'in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and; in certain partsiand combinations maybe readily taken, and which can be. easily hereinafter to be described, and then more particularly pointed-out initheclaims'l In the accompanying drawings, Figure '1" I "IS a perspective view, showing the exterior 'of the casing;. Fig. 2 is 'a transverse sectional view taken centrally through Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front elevatibn of the machine with the hinged cover raised; Fig." 4- is a-sectional yiew, taken on the line a: at of Fig. 2 and showing the record printing device; and Fig.

5 is a detail seotioriar view of the bearing sleeve.

In these'drawings, I have"illustrated the preferred form of my invention and have shown the same as comprising acasing 1 pro- -'v1ded with suitable means, such as the apertu'red lugs 2 forsecur'ing the same to the frame of a machine or to any other suitable sup ort'. --One of the walls of the casing,

pre erably-the front wall '3', is hinged thereto and forms a cover for thecounters which can be swung back out of the way to permit access to the interior of the casing and which is provided with a hasp 4 adapted to engage a staple or projection 5 for securing-the cover in its closed position. Mounted Within the casing 1 and extending longitudinally thereof is a shaft 6 which is preferably held against rotation. This shaft'may'be mounted. With- I in the casing in any suitable manner, but-I prefer that herein'shown in which one end of the shaft is mounted directly inthe adjacent end of the-casing and is held against rotation by means of a pin 7 extending through a boss 8 surrounding the a er'ture in the end of the casing.- and throng the shaft. The opposite end of the shaft is journaled in a bearing sleeve 9 which, in turn, is journaled in the adjacent end of the casing" 1. This sleeve 9 has its inner end enlarged to receive the end'ofthe shaft, as shown, and its outer end reduced, as shown at10,.and adapted to extend through the bearing aperture in the end wall of the casing and to receive the -re 'ducedj end of the shaft fif which preferably extends beyond the end wall of the easing '1 Theouter end of thereduced. portion 10 of the bearing sleeve extends for a'consiglerable distance beyond the end wall of tbgfcasin and is adapted to receive the-hub" ll nfof an o crating member, such as a crank arm 12,

w ich is secured thereto by any suitable" means, such asthepin 13 extendingthrou gh the hub 11 and the end 10 of-the sleeve.

A'plurality of-coun'ters 14 are rotatably inclusive. hese counters-maybe of any suitable character," but areflprefe ably; what are known; as -pri1'1tirig' counters that, Is, are

in about t e periphery thereof and prefer; ab y located on the side thereof "adjacent to that end of the shaft 6,1 1pon which the oper-- ating mechanism ismounted and provided tends for some distance on each side of the' disk 15 where it engages with the sleevelor hub of the adjacent disk and serves tospac'e the disks a proper distance apart.

The bearin sleeve 9 is provided with suit? able means or actuating the counter 14' which is located adjacent thereto, step by step. This means preferably consists of an arm 19, carried by the sleeve 9 and extending'at-an angle thereto, and a pawl 01' lever 20 ivotally connected at one end to theout'er end of the arm-19 and provided at its opposite end with-a suitable projectio'nor pin 21 adapted to engage the ratchet teeth 17 of the nountednpon-the shaft 6 and are provided. .on thein perilpheries with the numerals 0 to 9 provided on their' 'peripheries with type'fig- .ures, from which a record canbeta'ken, andare here shown as consisting ofdisks 15, each of which is rovided with a flange 16. extendcounter. A--sprmg 22, carried by the outer end of the arm19 and enga 'ng saidv arm and the pawl 20, servesto hol thelatt'er in engagement withthe ratchet teeth of the counter and permit the same to ride over the" teeth as the pawl is retracted, while a suitable spring is provided for returning the arm 19 to its normal position after each forward movement. This spring is preferably of the construction shown which consists of a spring 23 coiled about the sleeve 9 and having one end' in engagement with the casing or other upon a suitable shaft 27 extending substan-,

tially parallel with the shaft 6. The lever 25 is provided at its opposite end with a projection or pin 28 adapted to engage the ratchet teeth 17 of the counters and thus retainthe same against rearward movement. A suitable spring is providedfor retaining the pawl or lever 25 normally in engagement with the ratchet teeth and permittin the same to ride over said teeth on the orward move ment of the counters. This s ring is here shown as consisting of a piece 0 spring metal 29 secured at one end to the sleeve 26 of the pawl-25 and havin its other end-in engagement with the wal of the casing 1.

Suitable means are provided for causin each successive counter to be moved throng a single space for each complete revolution of the preceding counter. aThis means is herevshown as consisting of a series of arms 30 pivotally mounted in the casing and each having one end adapted to be engaged by a part carried by the p'recedingfcounterand connected with suita 1e actuating mechanism, such as the second arm131, which is provided, with a pawl for engaging the ratchet teeth on the succeeding counter and advanc-.

ing the same the space of one tooth when the first arm is engaged by the art carried by the first counter. As herein s own, the arms 30 and 31 are so connecteda's tomove in unison and referably comprise a bifurcated or V-shape plate32,v vhichis ivotallymounted at its apex and is prefera 1 provided with a bearing aperture in an e ong'ated hub or sleeve 33 journaledupon a shaft 34 which is mounted in-the casin 1 and extends sub stantially parallel jection or pin 35 on the rear side of the pre iceding counter, while the arm -31,- whichis preferably of a greater length thanthe arm 0, extends toa point between the'wall'of the casi with asultable pawl or lever-36 aptedto extends longitudin the shaft 6. "Eacharm 30 extends between the adjacent coun': te'rs 1 4 and is adapted to be engaged bya pro- ,and the counters man rovided,

extend between the disks and engage the ratchet teeth 17 of the succeeding counter. This pawl is here shdwn as consisting'of an arm or lever pivotally connected near its 'outer' end to the arm 31 and provided at its inner end with a suitable pin or projection 37 for engaging the ratchet teeth. A spring 38 is coiled about the. sleeve 33 of the plate 32 and has one end in engagement with the wall of the'ca'singandthe other end secured to thepawl 36 at a point near its pivotal connection to the, arm 31, as shown at 39. The

spring thus performs two functions; first, by

its connection to'the arm 36 between its pivotal center, and its point of engagement with the ratchetteeth of the counter-it serves to, hold the pawl in engagement with said ratchet teeth andpermit the same to ride over said teeth as the arm is moved rearwardly; and further, it exerts pressure upon the arm 31 through the medium of the arm 36-, which is connected to thearm 31, and servesto "return that arm and the-arm '30, which1nio-ves in unison therewith, to their normal; positions after each forwardniovemen't thereof; Each counter is operatively connected to the. suc- .ceeding counter by transfer mechanism comprising the arms 30 and 31 and each counter is provided with a locking pawl 25. Thus, it W1 1 be seen that as each counter completes a revolution the next succeeding counter will be advanced one step. .L-have here shown "the machine as provided with four counters,

thus enabling a count-- of- 9,999 to be made, p

but'obviously'the number of countersmay .bevaried. i

Suitable mechanism isprovided for taking' a record fronrthe counters, which mechanism consists in providing asuitable. opening in the casi in alinement with the proper row of numera s on the counters-and in mounting over'saido ening'a movable platen which is adapted to e actuated to take a record upon a card which may be inserted between the same and the counters. In the form of the device herein shown, the movable cover. 3 is provided with a suitable sight opening .40,

- through which the number registered by the several counters ma bev read. 'A plate'41 y 01 the casing 1 and is slidablyniounted thereon by means of the transverse slots 42, and the projections or screws 43, whereby it m aybenm'oved trans: versely of the length'of the casing. This plate 41 is provide with a row of apertures 44 adapted to register with thenumerals on the several counters, and, whenthe plate is moved-to its uppermost position, to register with the sight opening-40 mthe cover: 3. The plate is provided immediately above the row of apertures 44; wi tli anelongated opening or" slot 45 which is adapted to register with the sight opening 40 when the plate is in its lowermost position and which isp'rovided' with 'a housing 46- extending about they same;

. handle 50 for operating the same. A suit-- ment with the counters.

be provided with type of any suitable char-' acter, from' which a record may be taken n on a card inserted through the slot 52 in v t e housingfbut I prefer to form'the type sears:

laten 47 which is preferably provided with a ac'e of yielding material, such as rubber, and is provided with a stem 48 extending outwardly through anaperture 49. in the wall of the housing where it is provided witha knob or able sprinq'51 is coiledabout the stem 48 between the nob and the housing and serves to hold the platen normally out of engage- The counters may of hard metal and to pro'vide the platen with a yieldin face, whereby, inserted etween the p aten and. the counters andthe platen brought forcibly into engagem'ent therewith, ,the record as shown b the counters will be impressed on the .car This construction ives a permanent record and'does-away with the necessityof providingrinking mechanism. g, he operation of the device will be readily understood from the fore oing description, and, in brief, is as follows: he crank arm'12, which is mounted on the outer end.of the bearing sleeve 9, is connected to the machine, the output of which is to becounted in such a manner that it Willbe movedthro'ugha filied distance upon'the delivery of each' article. ,The forward I movement of the crankarm 12 rotates the bearing sleeve 9 in its'bcaring in the wall of the casing 1 and about the endgof the shaft 6, thus moving the arm 19 carried by the .inner end .of' the sleeve 9 and bringing the pawl 20,,carried by said arm, into engagement with the ratchet teeth of the first counter 14 and'moving that counter forward the space of one tooth which is equivalent to oneunit on the periphery thereof. The sleeve 9 and crank arm 19 are returned to their normal position after each forward movement thereof by means of the spring 23, this rearward movement being limited by aprojection or pin 53v which is a mounted in the'end of the casing 1 and engages the crank arm 12. -When the first or any successive counter has been, revolved.

through-a complete-revolution, the pin 35 mounted on the rear wall thereof comes into engagement with the end of the next succeeding arm 30 and rocks that arm about its pivota center, thereby causing the arm 31-, which moves in unison therewith, to move toward the'counters and bring the pawl'36, which is carried thereb into engagement with the ratchet teeth 0 the next succeeding counter, thereby advancing" that counter the space of one tooth, or one numeral, for each complete revolution of the first counter.

When the pin 35 has movedpast the-end of the arm 30, the arms 30 and 31 are" returned to their normal position by means of the when the card. is

connected to said spring 38. The total count which is regis-- cover of t e casing and a record of this count may be taken from the counters at any time by sliding theplate 41 forward so as to bring. the housing 46 and platen 47 into alinement with the opening 40 and inserting a card or slip of paper through the slot 52 in the housing so that it will .lie between the platen and the type on the counters. The handle 50 on the stem 48 of the platen is then struck a blow and the cardpressed against the shaap' har metal type on the counters, thus impressing a record of the count registered bythose'type on the card. When. esir ed, the counters may be reset to zero by raising the cover3.and completing the rotation of each counter by hand. While the counters may be provided with any suitable mechanism for resetting the same, I prefer teem loy the form of counter herein shown, in which the resetting is doneby hand. i

I wish it to beunderstood that I do not des'ire'to be limited to the exactdetails of' construction shown and described, for ob vious modifications will occur to a person w 1. A device of the character described comprising ,a shaft, a'plurality of counters rotatably mounted thereon \and provided with ratchetteeth, means for advancing one of said-counters step by step, a projection carried by said counter, an arm ivotally mounted near'isaid counters and a apted to be engaged by said rojection, a second arm t-mentioned' arm, extending at an an le thereto and adapted to move in unison t erewith, a pawl ivotally connected to said second arm and a apted to engage the teeth of the next successive counter, ands-spring secured thereto, said awl between its pivotal center and its point 0 engagement with said ratchet teeth, thereby serving to retain said pawl in engagement with said teeth and to return the arm carry! ing said awl to its normal position.

2, A evice of the character described comprising a shaft, a plurality of counters rotatably mountedthereon and provided with ratchet teeth, means for advancing one of said counters step by step, a. projection carried b tending substantiall lparallel with-said first? mentioned shaft, a urcated member jour-J naled in said shaft and having an elongated hub portion, one arm of said bifurcated member being adapted to be an aged by said projectignlgua pawl carriedb t e second arm of said rcated member or engaging said counter, a;second shaft ex-:

ter, and, aspringcoiled about the hub of said bifurcated mmberfand having one end engaging a fixed sl'irface and its other end engaginisaid pawlbetween the ends thereof.

device. of the character described compris'mg. a casing, a shaft rigidly mounted inone end thereof, a bearing sleevejjiournaled pawlfpivptally mounted on said arm and adapted to en age said ratchet teeth, and a spring carried mounted on said shaft and ratchet teeth, an arm carried said arm having one endin' engagemenflwit the same and the other end in engagement with said awl.

LA device of the c ara'cter' described comprising a plurality of alined printin counters, a platen extending transversely o '-theperipherie's of said'counteis and adapted x to be movedaboutpthe same to bring said "platen into alinement with the record 'numerals on said. counters, means for support ing a record-receiving member between said t ea record'therefro'rn v I 5; A device of he character described platen and s'aidco'unters, and means for mov of said counters-to said platen radially comprising a casing having an openin there-j min, a printlng counter mounted in sai casin 1 pr nting sa nte adjacent tosaidopening, a platen supporte, on theext'erior ofsaid-casing near the opentherein and adapted to be moved through the same to: take an impression from sa d 7 6.., A deviceof the: character described comprising a 'casinghaving'a slot therein, a

i plurality of alined printing-counters mount-' ed insaidca'sing-and having theiri'peripln.

eries arranged transversely of said slot, and a platen mountedonthe exterior of said casing v means for moving said said housing and and adapted to lie-moved through said slot to "take zan impression from i said printing counters; I r

*7. A device of-:.the character described comprisin a casing having an openingthere in, a plura ity of printing counters rotatably mounted Within said casing, means for rotating said counters, a platen movably mounted on said casing and adapted to be moved into alinement with said opening and I laten through said opening to take a recor' counters.

from said printing a '8. A device ofthe character described comprising a casing ving an opening therein, a pluralit of alined'counters rotatably mounted wit in said casing, means for rotating' said counters, a plate slidably mounted on said casing and rovided with a hous- I ,ing, a platen mounte in said housin said housing andisaid platen being adapte to be moved into alinement with said ope record from said 'ri'nting counters;

' 9.. A device 0 the character described comprising a casing having, an opening therein, -a plurality er alined"printmg counters mounted within said-casing, means for .actuating said counters, a plate slidably mounted on said casing and provided with aplurality of sight openmg's, and an elon ated oEenin extending substantially para el' wit sai sight openings, a h-(msing lnlosing said lastmentioned opening, and a platen mounted-in having a stern extending through the wall thereof and provided with a handle,j-said plate being adapted to be moved to bring sai housing and said platen into alinement with. the opening in sa d casing.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. v

v HENRY C. BOWLUS.

Witnesses 1 V IYFRANGISVM. HAGAiI, Jr., 1 EnwA-Rn L; REED.

and means for actuating said platen to take a 

